The Presidents of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan held the first meeting of the Supreme Interstate Council

The first meeting of the Supreme Interstate Council was held at the Akorda Residence, under the chairmanship of the Presidents of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

The President of Uzbekistan, expressing gratitude to the Leader and people of Kazakhstan for the warm welcome, emphasized that today is a special day in the history of cooperation between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.

“Today we are holding the first meeting of the Supreme Interstate Council, which is a historic event in the development of strategic partnership and alliance between our countries”, Shavkat Mirziyoyev said.

It was emphasized that relations between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan have acquired high dynamics in recent years.

As part of the preparation for the visit, meetings of the Intergovernmental Commission and the Business Council, a business forum, political consultations, a forum of analytical centers, and intellectual games were successfully held. Cinema Days, exhibitions, concerts, and many other events are taking place.

The two countries’ leaders welcomed the adoption of the historic Strategic Partnership and Alliance Program for 2024-2034, which marks the beginning of a new qualitative stage in friendship and good neighborliness between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.

At the meeting, the President of Uzbekistan outlined several priority tasks.

First, the importance of coordinating positions and effectively promoting common interests within international structures was emphasized.

An agreement was reached to increase the effectiveness of contacts, establish an Interparliamentary Forum, and continue the close work of the Expert Council.

The possibilities of increasing trade turnover to $10 billion in the coming years were discussed in detail. For these purposes, a separate Program will be adopted by the end of the month. At the same time, special attention will be paid to the mutual formation of markets and the elimination of existing restrictions.

The Leader of Uzbekistan noted the need to adopt a new strategy for industrial cooperation.

The parties welcomed signing a solid package of agreements worth $7 billion following the business forum and business meetings held the day before.

This concerns cooperation in energy, logistics, construction, chemical, electrical engineering, textile, agro-industrial and other industries.

An agreement was reached to accelerate the launch of the International Center for Industrial Cooperation and to discuss the issue of creating a Joint Fund to support promising projects financially.

Interaction between regions, which is a real driver of economic cooperation, was identified as one of the important areas of strategic partnership.

A decision was made to transform the Forum into a Council of Regions with the involvement of all regions and central cities and to hold its first meeting in Samarkand in the fall. The governments were instructed to approve a schedule of mutual visits of the regions to reach specific agreements.

Readiness was expressed for the joint implementation of projects on constructing energy capacities and infrastructure and developing alternative energy sources. Preparation of large regional projects, first of all, the construction of the Kambarata hydroelectric power station, will be accelerated.

In transport and transit, an agreement was reached to work out projects for constructing new transport corridors between the two countries with the involvement of business circles. In addition, the importance of strengthening the work on creating a modern logistics infrastructure was emphasized.

A unified approach to water use issues in the region was noted. Work will continue on forming a reliable legal framework and automating and digitalizing water management facilities.

Particular attention was paid to developing cultural, education, youth, and tourism exchanges.

“These days, Uzbek Cinema Days, exhibitions, festivals, concerts are taking place in Astana. The intellectual game “Zakovat” was successfully held. Such events bring our youth closer together and introduce them to common history and values”, the President of Uzbekistan emphasized.

The adopted Action Plan for Cultural and Humanitarian Cooperation for 2024-2025 will also serve this.

In education, branches of leading universities in two countries will be launched today – the Tashkent Institute of Irrigation and Agricultural Mechanization Engineers in Almaty and the South Kazakhstan University named after Mukhtar Auezov in Chirchik.

The Leader of Uzbekistan also expressed gratitude to the President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, for the initiative to open a monument in Astana to the great son of the Uzbek people, poet and thinker Alisher Navoi.

The parties confirmed their commitment to deepening integration and cooperation in Central Asia. The Consultative Meeting has become an effective mechanism for jointly addressing the region’s challenges and developing a long-term regional agenda.

Readiness was expressed to maintain a close and open dialogue within the framework of the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Organization of Turkic States, the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea, and other structures.

Following the talks, Shavkat Mirziyoyev invited Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to visit Uzbekistan to hold the second meeting of the Supreme Interstate Council.

UzA